Western commentators write hundreds of opinion pieces on China. Unfortunately, most of them simply copying one and other without examining the reality.
James Reilly's "Strong Society, Smart State" is written from Western (Australian) perspective. It nevertheless showcases China's Democratic Centralism in action.
"The rise and influence of public opinion on Chinese foreign policy reveals a remarkable evolution in authoritarian responses to social turmoil. This book shows how Chinese leaders have responded to popular demands for political participation with a
sophisticated strategy of tolerance, responsiveness, persuasion, and repression—a successful approach that helps explain how and why the Communist Party continues to rule China. Through a detailed examination of China's relations with Japan from 1980
to 2010, the book reveals the populist origins of a wave of anti-Japanese public mobilization that swept across China in the early 2000s. Popular protests, sensationalist media content, and emotional public opinion combined to impede diplomatic
negotiations, interrupt economic cooperation, spur belligerent rhetoric, and reshape public debates. Facing a mounting domestic and diplomatic crisis, Chinese leaders responded with a remarkable reversal, curtailing protests and cooling public anger
toward Japan. Far from being a fragile state overwhelmed by popular nationalism, market forces, or information technology, China has emerged as a robust and flexible regime that has adapted to its new environment with remarkable speed and effectiveness.
The book's study of public opinion's influence on foreign policy extends beyond democratic states. It reveals how persuasion and responsiveness sustain Communist Party rule in China and develops a method for examining similar dynamics in different
authoritarian regimes. "
https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Asia-in-the-World/dp/B08N1D6NSW
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